Tuesday, November 28, 2017 1:00 am

Letters

'An overly sweet deal'

I moved to Fort Wayne in 1969, and I have lived in the 3rd District most of my life.

I went to Superior Iron as a young man to scrap cars and other things. I have been in the steel industry since I was 19. I have known of the Rifkin family since then. They do not seem to lose out in their dealings (Metal X).

This proposed purchase is an overly sweet deal, and too much to put on the taxpayers' backs. City Council must vote no until more info is revealed. One can only believe that Greater Fort Wayne Inc. has ulterior motives for trying to shove this down City Council's and taxpayers' throats. I understand the need for property tax money for this property, but this is still a free market.

As much as Greater Fort Wayne wants to control all development in this town, City Council still has to answer to not only the taxpayers, but also to the voters.

Some of us await the bait and fear the switch game that is so much seduction.

Bait one: The middle class is to follow the yellow brick road to a simpler system and great benefits of fewer levels of fair taxation. The switch is in such wonderful details as the poor now being asked to pay a 12 percent rate, not the past 10 percent. Is it good to gouge those at the bottom?

Bait two: Corporate rates will descend from around 39 percent to somewhere in the 20 percent range. This action will allow them to trickle savings into the economy, promote growth and lead to higher wages. Switch two: Since Alexander Hamilton helped give birth to our nation's capitalism, CEOs have gone from a 40-to-1 ratio in pay compared to labor to today's ratio of 350 to one (Wall Street Journal, Nov. 6, 2017). Corporate greed sponges up the trickle.

Bait three: The plan allows wealthy unmarrieds to pass on nearly double the present $5.49 million to heirs, tax free. The married rich and dead can now double their $11 million exclusion to their heirs. The rest of us simply are left out of the switch game going on.

Graduate students will suffer loss of exemptions for college-level assistant positions and teachers in public schools can no longer get an exemption for the $250 spent on classroom supplies.

Bait four: Wealthy lobbyists promote these wonderful loopholes that are not available to the gullible masses.

The “new” tax plan continues to create a greater divide between the rich and poor. The middle class will continue to take on the yoke of making up for the lost revenue that gives the wealthy a nicer head of the line pass.

Why settle for blind faith in such an old system of gamers?

Nick Wilhelm

Fort Wayne

Arena rightly rejected

I was pleased that the downtown arena was rejected. In my mind, it would have done more harm to a real community asset, the Coliseum, rather than enhance it. Thanks for a reasoned and thoughtful decision.

Rex Altenburg

Fort Wayne

CHEERS to Community Harvest Food Bank and NIPSCO for providing food vouchers to the consumers we serve at The League. Each voucher entitles the bearer to a turkey and 50 pounds of food. The donation will bring substantial relief for many families during this holiday season. Thank you for your outstanding community service.